Mexico came from behind to defeat Puerto Rico and get their ticket to the semifinals of the World Classic

Photo: Megan Briggs/Getty Images

Mexico pulled off a game in spectacular fashion at the IoanDepot in Miami to beat Puerto Rico 5-4 and seal his ticket to the semifinals of the World Baseball Classic. After a first episode in which they received four runs, the Aztecs knew how to recover and take the victory that will take them to face Japan for the pass to the final.

The Puerto Ricans opened the game by heavily punishing Julio Urías who started awkwardly and cost him two home runs in the inning. However, the game was going to become a seesaw of emotions.

A sacrifice fly by Emmanuel Rivera prompted the first stripe in the legs of Kiké Hernández. But it was only the beginning of a nightmare for Urías since he would later come Javier Báez and with a huge home run he would put the Puerto Ricans ahead with a score of 3-0.

Eddie Rosario completed the Back to Back with another home run for the Caribbean team that put the actions with a 4-0 scoreline for those led by Yadier Molina, who were already moving away on the board with their sights set on the semifinal.

For his part, the stellar Marcus Stroman managed to get the first entry by way of 1,2,3 and maintained the advantage for the Puerto Rican ninth. In the second inning Julio Urías would come out with a different attitude and managed to prescribe three consecutive strikeouts for Soto, Maldonado and Lindor. Subsequently, Isaac Paredes disappeared the ball from Stroman and brought the first stripe for the Aztec ninth that shortened the difference.

Urías took out the third inning also on the fast track and he showed that from the second chapter he was the pitcher that the fans had come to see. When it was thought that Urías would come out after 49 pitches, Benjamín Gil decided to continue with “Culichi” in the fourth inning.

Javier Báez hit Julio Urías with a single but later with a groundout by Rosario, Mexico pulled the double play to clear the situation. Christian Vázquez hit a double that again threatened the Dodgers pitcher who ended up getting the zero.

In the fifth inning Javier Assad arrived for Mexico to replace Julio Urías who left after allowing four runs, including two homers. Marcus Stroman followed from the mound in the fifth inning and up to that point had only received two hits including Paredes’ homer.

However, Alex Thomas hit an infield single and later reached third driven by Barnes. Later Randy Arozarena received a ticket to fill the pads for the Aztec ninth and mount a serious threat to Stroman. act followed Álex Verdugo drove a stripe to bring the second from Mexico and that would be it for Marcus Stroman to walk out of the game.

It is worth noting the outstanding performance of the Mexican relay who knew how to keep the Puerto Rican offensive at bay.

The lethal reaction of Mexico would come in the seventh episode with a great punishment to the Puerto Rican pitchers. the californian Austin Barnes opened with a double and placed the possibility of a tie with Arozarena at the plate, who reached on a walk. Alexis Díaz got into tremendous trouble when he lost Verdugo with another ticket and Yadier Molina quickly took him out of the game.

Jorge López came in to put out the fire and dominated Joey Meneses and Rowdy Téllez with a punch. However Isaac Paredes woke up and tied the match for Mexico that would continue the ambush with Luis Urías connecting an indisputable that brought the fifth line for the Aztecs.

It is worth noting Randy Arozarena’s play in the eighth round, stealing an uncatchable from Rivera deep and doing with the glove what until now he had not been able to do with the wood.

Giovanny Gallegos came to the rescue in the ninth inning for Mexico and after receiving a hit to begin with, he was able to dominate the actions with some suspense, to end up sealing the victory for the Aztecs and qualifying for the semifinals for the first time in history.

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